Highs near 70 today ahead of new Pacific low

A short spell of warmer temperatures is expected today as clouds begin to build in advance of a new Pacific storm that should bring showers from Wednesday through Saturday. Highs near 70 are forecast for the Spokane and Coeur d’Alene areas with overnight lows staying above average at about 50 degrees. Light east winds are expected today. Chances of showers run from 60 percent on Wednesday to 80 percent on Thursday, dropping to 50 percent on Friday and 40 percent on Saturday. Drier weather is expected for Saturday night and Sunday as an improving trend kicks in, forecasters said. The risk of showers continues at 20 to 30 percent on Sunday night and Memorial Day. The cold air that brought freezing temperatures on Monday morning and set records across the region did not return this morning. Spokane International Airport reported a low of 41 compared with the 32-degree record on Monday. Average temperatures today for Spokane are 68 for a high and 45 for a low. At 7 a.m., it was 48 at the Spokane airport, 42 in downtown Spokane, 48 in Coeur d’Alene, 44 in Deer Park and 48 in Pullman.